Life and politics from the Sunshine State's best city

Ritch Workman

Ritch Workman is headed back to Tallahassee. The former state representative, a Melbourne Republican, was appointed Friday night by Gov. Rick Scott to serve on the Florida Public Service Commission. Workman replaces Ronald Brisé, who had sought a third term on the board. Scott also re-appointed Art Graham to the commission and filled the seat left open by the departure of Jimmy Patronis with Gary Clark, the Department of Environment Protection‘s deputy secretary of land and recreation.

Art Graham and Ronald Brisé on Thursday won nominations to be returned to their seats on the Public Service Commission, which regulates investor-owned utilities in the state. If selected, both men would serve third terms; each was first appointed by Gov. Charlie Crist in 2010.

Former lawmakers Greg Evers, Rich Glorioso, and Ritch Workman and current Rep. Tom Goodson have been selected to be interviewed to replace Jimmy Patronis on the Florida Public Service Commission. Another noteworthy applicant, former state Comptroller and retired Marine general Bob Milligan, was shut out of the process, receiving no votes from the Public Service Commission Nominating Council, which met Wednesday in Tampa.

As of last Friday’s deadline, three more former lawmakers applied for the now-empty seat on the Public Service Commission vacated when Jimmy Patronis stepped down to become the state’s new CFO. Applying for the seat were former state Sen. Greg Evers, a Baker (Okaloosa County) Republican; former state Rep. Dave Murzin, a Pensacola Republican; and former state Rep. Ritch Workman, a Melbourne Republican, according to a list released late Friday by the Public Service Commission Nominating Council.

With a tip of the hat to LobbyTools, here are the latest movements — both on and off — of the legislative merry-go-round. Off: Mary Kassabaum is no longer legislative assistant for Trilby Republican state Sen. Wilton Simpson. Off: Caroline Crow is no longer district secretary for Rockledge Republican state Sen. Thad Altman. On: Matthew Hunter is returning as legislative assistant for Fort Myers Republican state Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto. Off: Sean Nixon is no longer legislative assistant for Cutler Bay Democratic state Sen. Dwight Bullard. Off: Kyle Langan is no longer…

There are lots of reasons people don’t like politics; this is one of them. Tim Canova refused to concede his congressional bid, telling reporters he would only “concede Debbie Wasserman Schultz is a corporate stooge.” Alan Grayson called Patrick Murphy a Republican. And after Marco Rubio trounced Carlos Beruff in the Republican Party primary, Beruff released an Op-Ed blasting Rubio. “With regard to young Mr. Rubio, in my judgment, he made a life mistake. A man’s word is the most important thing he has. Mr. Rubio must live with that decision,” he…

The Florida Chamber of Commerce made a big investment in the primary, a move officials said paid off, despite a few notable losses. The Chamber’s political operation announced primary victories for 76 of the 89 candidates it endorsed. Some of those candidates were incumbents; others were involved in uncompetitive primaries. But there were big wins in a few competitive primaries. “We won some, we lost some,” said Marian Johnson, the senior vice president of political strategy for the Florida Chamber.…